Aw man, I had the same exact problem. Switched to stainless steel bowls last year and it's night and day for meringues. I actually scrub my plastic bowls with vinegar now before using them for eggs but still never get the same results. Metal just stays cleaner somehow.

My neighbor paid $2k for a crown reduction on his oaks last spring and honestly they look better than ever. I think it depends on the tree and the person doing the work yeah some hack jobs happen but a proper reduction can save a tree that's getting too heavy on one side or blocking a roof. Thinning alone doesn't always fix structural problems.

That "flickering on descent" part catches my eye because it reminds me of how old car radios would act up on hot days but work fine in the morning. Funny how temperature changes expose weak points that regular bench testing might miss, like that hairline crack you found.

Tucson's pretty great for solar but I've seen a lot of folks get burned on roof repairs later.

Yeah trapping grit is basically the root of all bike problems lol